carseat or no carseat?!?!

I have received SO MANY different answers on this question (even between pediatricians), it is ridiculous. I FINALLY got the "real scoop" from an EMT who used to help with the carseat inspections around town. So - if you have always wondered: "WHEN DOES MY CHILD NO LONGER NEED TO RIDE IN A BOOSTER SEAT?" - here is THE ANSWER (from the EMT's email to me):

This unfortunately is an area that confuses people because there is more than one answer. So, I am just going to address the booster seat crowd for now, since that is what you asked me about. Ok, so here it is:

all children need to be in a booster seat until they are:

4' 9" tall,

8 years old,

and/or 80lbs

The reason there are a couple of measurements is because children come in all sizes, I will try to explain:

4' 9" because they need the height to fit into the seat correctly, they need to be able to sit with their butt and back against the back of the car seat and still have their knees bend (90 degrees) at the edge of the front of the seat. The height also helps to keep the shoulder belt across their shoulder and not their neck.

8 yrs old, because they need the neck strength, muscle control, and the average 8 year old size fits into the other categories.....

80 lbs again, an average of size needed to stay in the belt in an accident. Most carseat manufacturers max out at 80 lbs.

A little more information everyone should know:

• even when using a booster seat always use a shoulder & lapbelt combo never just a lapbelt.
• If you are using a booster seat that does not have a high back, the back of the car seat must have a head support. Otherwise in an accident the child's neck will not be protected.
• If you still have questions you can call me or check out this website, they have a ton of info and you should be able to look up car seat checks (inspections) by zip code. There are places and people that do checks year-round, it is always better to keep your precious cargo safe than take a chance.
  http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/
• There is a program called WHALE (We Have A Little Emergency). As an EMT, I highly recommend this!!! It is an identification program for children that helps emergency personnel to have correct information about your child quickly. It is a way of attaching your child's info to their car seat so that in an accident if you or your child cannot speak we can know their names and other emergency information and are able to comfort them easier. You can find out more and have a kit sent to you by contacting your local transportation department.